Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness around the world.

May 14, 2006

Today’s announcements

Today we welcome a wonderful new writer who is recognized all over the Internet for her wonderful poetry.  I am honoured to have Joan Clifton Costner join us as writer # 322 for Storytime Tapestry.  Please welcome her in the traditional Storytime gang style.

Happy Mother’s Day everyone, please note that poor Nikki is a mother to,

For those that have asked, this is Nikki's address right now, and a note from David below it.

Nikole L. Castro
The Cleveland Clinic Foundation
9500 Euclid Avenue/ M50-08 (BMT)
Cleveland, Ohio 44195

Hey Mom,

The more cards/ letters/ etc............. the better
she can get things like pictures/ paintings/ fake plants/ etc.......... to make her room better but can't get Balloons and live plants.. just things that can be sterilized & sprayed disinfectant on.. ...................too sad.  She isn't able to use the computers in the lounge right now either because she's getting too weak to get there with the continuous throwing up.  Please give everyone our biggest thank you's for caring as they have.
Love, David

Now onto the good stuff!

Today’s Mother’s Day Stories

My Momma

         Author: Nell M. Berry    4/26/05

Email: lberry001@centurytel.net

I don’t know what to title this story, except “My Momma”. That’s what she was to me. When I was born I weighed 12 ? lbs. The doctor said I may have weighed another half pound, but he had dropped me while he was weighing me, on the bed and was afraid to weigh me again. I don’t know how true that was, but that was the story I got.

My Momma was not a large woman. She was just average height and build. Therefore at the age of 36 or 38 whichever she was, it was extremely difficult on her having a child that large. I maintain she never recovered her health after I was born. She had given birth to six live births and one or two miscarriages and my older sibling, my brother who was the oldest of the four remaining children weighed 11 ? lbs. when he was born. So, my mother’s immune system had been tested and tried. She was ill a lot after my birth.

Remembering my mother and her loving care, I recall when we lived in a log house we called the Sam Luck place, named for the previous resident or owner. We had no bathroom facilities and no running water. So when Mother Nature called we had to do the best we knew how. Our best in that situation was a chicken house. That was what we used for an outhouse.

One day at the age of three or four, Mother Nature called to me and I went into the chicken house and was sitting on the chicken roost on the lowest pole and hanging on by the tip of my toes touching the ground when I lost my balance and back I went. You guessed it, I was a mess. I can still remember my Momma bending me over her knees and cleaning my little behind. She never scolded or said a word; just cleaned me up.

Another time when we lived in town, I came home from school one day and asked my Momma if I could go across the river into town and go to the library to watch a movie they were having for the school children. My Momma said “No, it’s too late. It will be dark before you get back home. I don’t want you out after dark.” But I was determined and I kept begging her; she kept saying “no” and I finally said, “I’m going.” So, I went and it was almost dark when I got home. My Mom said she was going to tell my Dad and I knew what that meant; a good tanning. I had seen my Dad give my sisters and brother whippings and I didn’t want any. I began to beg Mom, “Please don’t tell Daddy. Please Momma, I won’t do it again”.

Well, Daddy came home and Momma told him what I had done and he was going to tan my hide but good. He went outside and I kept begging Momma for mercy, “Please Momma, I won’t do it again. Please don’t let Daddy whip me” or words to that effect.

Although my Dad kept promising me all that evening that I was in for it, he never did follow through. He didn’t have to; I had been taught a lesson. I never did that or anything like that again.

  I was born in town, in Poplar Bluff, MO. When I was about two years old, I got the measles. I had them really bad. I was so sick, with a fever and my Momma rocked me all night, or at least it seemed that way to me. Anyway, she took care of me, not thinking of her own lack of sleep and her feelings, she just simply did what any mother would do and rocked me.

                           My Momma got sick one day in May in 1940. She was so ill the doctor was called out to the house. He did what he could, but it didn’t help. My brother who was in the service at the time was summoned home on furlough. I still recall him sitting on the bed beside my Momma and he bent over and wept, holding her hand. My Daddy, my two sisters and I were standing at the foot of the bed and we could see the pulse in my Momma’s neck beating. Then suddenly it stopped and my Momma was gone. I was nine years old but I knew at that moment in time I had lost my Momma. My heart was broken.

My Daddy’s heart was broken too. He lived almost a year after that. Then one day in March of 1941 while I was at school someone came and took me home. My Daddy had suffered a heart attack and they took him to the hospital. Ten minutes after he was admitted he sat up in bed, coughed and then smiled and lay back down and he was gone. So in a year’s time, I had lost both mother and father. I knew what it was to be an orphan. The years have come and gone but I will never forget my sweet Momma and Daddy. They are precious to me, even now.                                                                                      

Bio: Nell M. Berry-Author My Momma

I am a published Author of one book, Growing Up in Missouri and Other Short Stories. I have another book almost finished which is a mystery/romance novel.

             I have been married to the same man for nearly 56 years. We have four children and nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren. We live at Mark Twain Lake near Hannibal, MO. I like to write poems and song lyrics and short stories. I also like to cook and crochet and sew and go to church. I love spending time with my children and grandchildren.

~**~**~

Mother’s Day Poetry Section

~**~**~

My Mother’s Prayers

 Joan Clifton Costner

I never sat alone in my pain

Waiting for help - waiting in vain --

For Mama was there with sweet soothing words

Wisdom to lend when I finally heard.

Oh, how I love the guidance she gave

Helping her child to be brave...

My Mother’s prayers came from a loving heart,

My Mother’s prayers help me to stand apart.

Choosing my way in careful deeds

I stood alone - but not in need -

For she was there with her Mother’s prayer.

Each race I won - Mama was there,

Cheering me on - saying her prayer,

And when I fell, bleeding and bruised,

I could look up to that face I knew -

Shining with hope - telling me true,

"I’ll always be there for you."

My Mother’s prayers filled me with hope again,

My Mother’s prayers made her my dearest friend,

And in my prayer I called her name

Again and again - I know the gain -

I’m only here because of Mama’s prayers.

My Mother’s eyes let His love shine through -

Her deep desires were His wishes too ...

Sometimes at night when I’m all alone

I hear a voice - much like my own -

Saying a prayer, making a plea,

Just like my Mom did for me...

My Mother’s prayers - hallowed forevermore -

My Mother’s prayers - echo from Heaven’s shore,

My Mother’s prayer I hear again

And say them when my child’s in need -

Love’s always there - in a Mother’s prayer....

Love’s always there - in a Mother’s prayer.

Joan Clifton Costner

~**~**~

Mother,

A Journey of Life
Joan Clifton Costner

Along the way, a young mother's song
Inspired her children, taggin' along.
In brilliant brightness, heart so light,
She loved her children with all her might.

But, her Dear Guide warned, "Oh, the way is hard.
You will grow weary, wrinkled and tired,

Before you reach your journey's end."
 

But, she gathered flowers and sang a hymn,

"Nothing can tear the joy from my heart.
I'm not afraid, I will do my part."

Then, night came down, with a storm and a gale.
The children shook and grew so pale.
But, mother gathered them, tight in her arms,
And drove away their fear and alarms.

Her mantle wrapped o’er the children, so tight,
She calmed their fears, throughout the black night.

The children smiled, "We're no longer afraid.
Mother, you taught us courage, today!"

The mother smiled and knew, in her heart,
This night was better than the light at the start.

When morning came, a hill, so tall,
Made the children so weary and small.

Mother was worn.  But, she cheered them on,
'Til they reached the top and could see beyond.

"We would never have made it, Mother, alone.
You taught us fortitude, of our own."

And, the mother knew, down deep in her heart,
This lesson of strength was a needed part.

Clouds of war, and evil, and hate
Threatened her, now, each step of the way.

And, the children groped, and stumbled, and fell.
But, the mother's prayers lifted them from Hell,

"Look up to the Light!  Look up and you'll see
The One Who always is guiding me!"

The children turned their hearts and their heads,
And their faith was fired.  They were rightly led.

"Out of the darkness to Eternal Light,
I've shown my children their Savior, tonight.

And, this is the day, the best of all days!

To God be the glory, the honor, and praise!"

Days and then weeks; months and then years,
Though Mother grew old, she suffered no fears.

For, her children were strong and tall as the trees,
Tallest of all when down on their knees!
Their courage failed not and their fortitude stayed,
Their Salvation sure as the choice they had made!

Now, the road grew rough.  But, the strong children ran
And raised the dear Mother up by the hand.

Light as a feather, they bore her across,
Sure she would make every step with no loss.

When they came to the hill with the path of pure gold,
Mother was feeble and very old.

At the end of the path were the golden gates
And, here, the last journey that Mother would make.

"The end, now, I see is better, by far,
Than when we began.  For, now, you are
Able to stand and walk all alone,
Able to teach children of your own."

And, she walked all alone, through the gates of pearl.
But, the children said, "She is with us, still.
Though we cannot see, we know she is near.
Her precious spirit will strengthen and cheer.

For, a mother like ours is from God, alone.
In His love, He has only brought her back home."


© by Joan Clifton Costner


With deep appreciation to Temple Bailey for the original story.

My name is Joan Clifton Costner, email, jody@ptsi.net

Thank you Carol.

Blessings,

Joan

http://underhiswings0.tripod.com
http://www.heavenlypoetry.com

~**~**~

Readers Feedback

Comments from May 11, 2006

Roxanne; very good and interesting story. Sorry to hear of the MS affliction.
Prayers are with you. I would like some information on the Kombucha
Mushroom Tea. I have friends in different stages of MS.
Thanks
Mark Crider

Welcome to Storytime Tapestry, Roxanne!

I truly enjoyed reading MS and Mummy's Curse. I look forward to reading more of your work.

Dianna Doles Petry

http://diannapetry.tripod.com

dianna59@charter.net

Violet; So beautiful the stories and thanks for sharing. God bless, hugs Leona

Violet, I just wanted to drop you a short note to tell you how much I enjoyed your story, "My Mother's Eyes." I always look forward to reading the things you have written and this one truly did strike a chord in my heart.

You are not wrong to keep her memory alive no matter how long it has been since her passing. I am fortunate enough to still have my mother here with me even though she suffers from dementia and a host of physical ailments which now includes cancer of the bladder. I keep the memory of her from her younger and healthier days alive for my children. I want them to know the woman she was before she became the frail creature that she is now. I think it would be dishonoring a mother's life to allow her memory to fade.

Thank you for sharing a piece of work that is obviously very close to your heart.

Dianna Doles Petry

Prayer Requests and Updates

David just left.  He's running so ragged, poor man... Nikki's rough time has started.  She was so ill today she couldn't even speak to him on the phone much because she had to throw up continuously.  The staff is trying to help keep her as quiet as she can be to help settle her system down as much as possible, but not very successfully.  She went from a little bit of nausea yesterday to total nausea today .. can't keep anything down and can't stop the gag-reflex. 

That's it for now, my friends... Love, Al, reyjaz@aol.com

Senior Writers

Chief writer: Sharon Bryant

                                     Chief researcher/historian: Hartson Dowd

Agee, Vance; Apted, Violet; Baker, Kathy; Batt, Al; Berry, Nell; Blaine, Pamela; Boda, Ginger; Buhagiar, Victor; Cassady, B.J.; Cavalera, Robyn; Crider, Mark; Deming, Barb; Doherty, Maria; Gilbert, Robert, Jr.; Goodier, Steve; Braun-Haley, Ellie; Harris, Kathy Anne; Hunt, Sharlett; Hymes, Christina; Jacobson, Gary; Kiser, Roger Dean; Kerens, Claudia; Kevin, Tim; Jenkins, Pamela; Liles, Norma; Lily Jodi Flesberg; Lock, Joyce; Marlor, Janice Bumbalough; Mazzella, Joe; Morris, Deepak; Ojeibge, Georgewaters; Petry, Dianna Doles; Roberts, Susan; Shiveley, Debra; Shaw, Bob; Sims, Richard; Streidel, Saskia; Swarner, Ken; Vaknin, Sam; Verhoeff, Jan; Walker, Bill; Walker, Joe; Warner, Gordon, K; Walsh, Sue; Weymouth, Barbara J.; Whirity, Kathy;

Wainland, David; Westerfer, Clara; White Robert;

Storytime Tapestry Staff

Carol Roach - Founder/publisher

Thelma Hartselle - Co-Founder, Moderator

Clara Westerfer – moderator

Bob Johnson - moderator